Tell Butlin’s what you would change about swimming pool changing rooms - £300 voucher prize draw! NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

Butlin's is redesigning one of its swimming pools and needs your help to make it as family-friendly as possible. In particular Butlin’s wants your help to understand what it’s like as a parent using a swimming pool changing room – and your input will genuinely help inform the new design and build on resort.

Why the changing room? Butlin’s have done research which shows that most parents love going swimming with their children – until they get to the changing room. From the wet floor, the often-freezing temperature, the small cubicles not suitable for a family to the fact you can never get your child dry – there’s a lot to be desired! Which is why Butlin’s wants the opinion of Mumsnetters to identify the biggest issues you face – and your ideas on how to solve them.

So two important questions:

What do you find particularly frustrating when using changing rooms at the swimming pool?

In an ideal world, can you think of anything which would make your life easier and solve these problems?

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 John Lewis voucher!

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

We recently went to Butlins in Bognor. There is a definite need for more family cubicles. We waited for ages for one with our 2.5 year old and 6 month old. We were soaking wet and waiting for a good 10 minutes.

Toddler proof locks would be handy and bigger lockers.

Our local pool makes everyone wear plastic overshoes in the changing area and it has make a huge difference in keeping it so much cleaner. It's not nice having to walk through unclear floor in your bare-feet.
Also locks on door that are placed up high as my son is always trying to open it before you're ready.

more hooks, and mirrors

The main thing is that they need to be clean and relatively dry.

Large family cubicles to fit 4 people would be great, with a shelf or hooks for belongings so that they don't have to be put down on a puddle infested floor!

Large lockers are always essential too.

To be warmer as the little ones get so cold while changing and they can get upsett

To be cleaned more regularly and to have some toys to keep children entertained while parents are getting changed :)

A removable shower head would be very useful for kids

More room and more family changing rooms would be useful. Also places for kids to sit and more hooks so that clothes don't end up sodden on the floor. A hairdryer in the changing room would also be fab!

Family shower and changing cubicles. And des infecting spray for the feet

They could provide a large wiper to be able to dry them out a bit instead of having to be a contortionist getting your clothes off without hitting the floor and have the cubicles reaching the floor - nothing worse than an toddler trying to escape under them!

less standing water

The floors for a start - they are always slippy and soggy and how about somewhere to actually pop your bags/clothes on that aren't going to get wet.....whilst we are on about it - bugger cubicles. I'm only small but even I bang my elbows, never mind when there are children in there with me!

Oh...and my biggest bug bear - the hair dryers! They are rubbish!

The best changing rooms I have used are the ones where you separate wet and dry changing. It does mean that you have to take your towel and sponge bag to the pool side and then shower and dry (thoroughly) before returning to your locker (in the dry area) to get dressed/hair dried. It probably only works in a small scale pool as it does need individual shower cubicles and trusting that someone doesn't run off with your towel.

Think that people should wear flip flops to prevent the spread of things like varuccas. Bigger cubicals which have a mesh mat on the floor that is raised from the usual water on the floor and definitely a plastic bag dispenser for your sodden swimwear.

more space to change as sometimes the rooms are too small

The benches in cubicles are often too narrow for either changing a baby or standing a child on to dress them. There is never too many hooks!

Bigger cubicles, more shelving or hooks and somewhere to put your wet clothes while you get dressed because, I am always freezing trying to decide where to put the wet gear!

I would like them to provide somewhere to put your baby whilst you get changed so they don't get wet on the floor, also have changing mats/stations available.

bigger changing rooms!

Floor tiles that don't hurt my feet, enough room to turn around as the cubicles are usually so small, better drainage and magic flooring which stays dry all the time - I always end up with wet socks :-(

large family cubicles are a must and also high standard of cleaning,

Non slippery tiles in the changing areas and more effort to prevent the spread of veruccas!

More space and warmer!! Really hard to dress a cold crying toddler with minimal space!

A large family changing room with fold down changing table, enough hooks for towels and clothes. Most importantly that they are kept clean. A nappy bin outside the door and an additional higher up door lock that little hands cannot reach so your not caught with your clothes off would be ideal too.

Comfortable temperatures for changing rooms. Plenty of hooks to hang clothes while changing. Larger changing rooms big enough for a family. Better drainage so the floor is not saturated. Large lockers. Hairdryers that work free to use. Childproof door locks. Plenty of seating with a wet & dry area. Child facilities like playpen, travel cot. Clean areas at all times & regularly monitored by staff who care!

Worktops at a comfy height to put clothes and bags while you get organised and then changed + a few small chairs for children to sit while Mum gets herself ready :)